2026 Race Recaps

Rose Fest Recap

Team Calapya Earns Division 1 Finish at the 2026 Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races

Team Calapya — Ridgefield's own spirited crew of friends, neighbors, and paddling enthusiasts — had a milestone race weekend at the 2026 Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races, competing in the Mixed Division alongside teams from across the Pacific Northwest.

A Step Up — and a Hard-Earned One

This year marked a significant achievement for the team: after finishing in Division 2 last season, Team Calapya earned their place in Division 1. For a team only three seasons into their journey together, that kind of advancement doesn't happen by accident. It happens through commitment, coordination, and a whole lot of early mornings driving down to Portland — because without access to their own boats, that's exactly what this team has done. They've made it work, every single time.

How the Races Unfolded

Calapya opened strong in Time Trial 1, finishing 2nd in Heat 9 with a time of 3:03.07 — one of their best showings of the weekend. They carried that momentum through Time Trial 2 and into the Quarterfinals, advancing to the Consolidated Consolation Final where they posted a 2nd place finish in Heat 56 with a time of 3:05.36.

While their times placed them toward the lower end of the Division 1 field, competing at that level — against experienced, well-resourced teams — is itself a testament to how much this group has grown.

More Than a Race Team

Team Calapya is part of something bigger. Rooted in the values of volunteerism, friendship, and community, this team shows up not just on race day, but for each other and for Ridgefield. They welcome new paddlers with open arms, and they race in the same spirit they live by — with energy, heart, and a genuine love for the sport.

Spotted in their signature gray and fiery-red dragon uniforms, Calapya was hard to miss on the water. And after a weekend like this one, they'll be even harder to overlook next year.

Division 1. Three seasons in. The best is still ahead. 🐉